Overseas experience
Encyclopedia
Overseas experience is a New Zealand
term for an extended overseas working holiday. Sometimes referred to as "The big OE" in reference to the extended duration of the travel - typically at least one year, and often extending far longer. It is believed to have been coined by New Zealand cartoonist and columnist Tom Scott
.
. As this implies, the typical OE traveller is in his or her early to mid 20s and middle class. However variations on this are not unusual: many travellers have no university education, and are thus able to have their OE in their late teens or early 20s following a few years in the workforce; an increasingly popular alternative to London is to spend a year teaching English overseas, especially in Japan
or South Korea
; and enough Māori take OEs for there to be a permanent Māori culture group (Ngati Ranana
) in London. The European OE usually includes travel within Europe and, recently, a pilgrimage to the Gallipoli
battle site.
London's position as the default OE destination is probably a result of what historian James Belich
calls 'recolonisation'. He describes how New Zealand developed very strong cultural ties to the United Kingdom, and London in particular, and as a result tended to see London as the centre of the universe and pay little attention to other places. In addition, British immigration law until the 1970s allowed Australians and New Zealanders to live and work in Britain as British citizens. The continuation of the trend may be residual recolonialism but in addition most New Zealanders have friends and often relatives in London, and its favourable working holiday scheme
, proximity to the rest of Europe, and the fact that it is English-speaking also make Britain a desirable destination. In 2003 former Prime Minister
Helen Clark
described the OE to Britain as "an important tradition for many New Zealanders".
However nowadays OE travelers are getting more and more curious and are interested in other destinations. The USA, Canada, and Ireland are becoming more popular but also non-English speaking countries like France, Netherlands, and Germany.
The abbreviation OE is sometimes spoken as if it is a formal qualification - as in "do you have your OE?" - because before 2004 the top secondary school qualification was UE - "University Entrance". The phrase also indicates that the trip is considered to be an important milestone rather than something frivolous. Large numbers of New Zealanders live and work in Australia but this generally not considered to be an OE.
in order to be abble to work and live in those countries for (usually) up to a year. In order to be eligible for a working holiday visa you need to be between 18 and 30 (sometimes 35) years of age. Some countries (like the USA) force you to apply for a working holiday visa through organisations like IEP or CCUSA while other countries allow you to apply for the visa yourself. Further rules and regulations concerning these visas can change so always check with the appropriate High Commission or Embassy.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
term for an extended overseas working holiday. Sometimes referred to as "The big OE" in reference to the extended duration of the travel - typically at least one year, and often extending far longer. It is believed to have been coined by New Zealand cartoonist and columnist Tom Scott
Tom Scott (cartoonist)
Tom Scott is a New Zealand cartoonist, and is regarded by some as one of the best New Zealand cartoonists since the 1970s.Scott has been the regular cartoonist, initially for the New Zealand Listener magazine and then for the Evening Post newspaper and its successor the Dominion Post, for most of...
.
Destinations
A typical OE is mostly or entirely self-funded, occurs within a few years of university graduation, and centres on LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. As this implies, the typical OE traveller is in his or her early to mid 20s and middle class. However variations on this are not unusual: many travellers have no university education, and are thus able to have their OE in their late teens or early 20s following a few years in the workforce; an increasingly popular alternative to London is to spend a year teaching English overseas, especially in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
or South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
; and enough Māori take OEs for there to be a permanent Māori culture group (Ngati Ranana
Ngati Ranana
Ngāti Rānana is a Māori cultural group based in London. It aims to provide 'an environment to teach, learn and participate in Māori culture and to promote New Zealand through Māori culture. The group regularly performs throughout the United Kingdom and Europe....
) in London. The European OE usually includes travel within Europe and, recently, a pilgrimage to the Gallipoli
Gallipoli
The Gallipoli peninsula is located in Turkish Thrace , the European part of Turkey, with the Aegean Sea to the west and the Dardanelles straits to the east. Gallipoli derives its name from the Greek "Καλλίπολις" , meaning "Beautiful City"...
battle site.
London's position as the default OE destination is probably a result of what historian James Belich
James Belich (historian)
James Christopher Belich, ONZM is a New Zealand revisionist historian, known for his work on the New Zealand Wars.Of Croatian descent, he was born in Wellington in 1956, the son of Sir James Belich, who later became Mayor of Wellington. He attended Onslow College.He gained an M.A...
calls 'recolonisation'. He describes how New Zealand developed very strong cultural ties to the United Kingdom, and London in particular, and as a result tended to see London as the centre of the universe and pay little attention to other places. In addition, British immigration law until the 1970s allowed Australians and New Zealanders to live and work in Britain as British citizens. The continuation of the trend may be residual recolonialism but in addition most New Zealanders have friends and often relatives in London, and its favourable working holiday scheme
Working holiday visa
A working holiday visa is a travel permit which allows travellers to undertake employment in the country issuing the visa for the purpose of supplementing their travel funds....
, proximity to the rest of Europe, and the fact that it is English-speaking also make Britain a desirable destination. In 2003 former Prime Minister
Prime Minister of New Zealand
The Prime Minister of New Zealand is New Zealand's head of government consequent on being the leader of the party or coalition with majority support in the Parliament of New Zealand...
Helen Clark
Helen Clark
Helen Elizabeth Clark, ONZ is a New Zealand political figure who was the 37th Prime Minister of New Zealand for three consecutive terms from 1999 to 2008...
described the OE to Britain as "an important tradition for many New Zealanders".
However nowadays OE travelers are getting more and more curious and are interested in other destinations. The USA, Canada, and Ireland are becoming more popular but also non-English speaking countries like France, Netherlands, and Germany.
The abbreviation OE is sometimes spoken as if it is a formal qualification - as in "do you have your OE?" - because before 2004 the top secondary school qualification was UE - "University Entrance". The phrase also indicates that the trip is considered to be an important milestone rather than something frivolous. Large numbers of New Zealanders live and work in Australia but this generally not considered to be an OE.
Visa
As New Zealand has visa arrangements with countries like Britain, USA, Canada, Netherlands, France etc. New Zealand citizens can apply for a working holiday visaWorking holiday visa
A working holiday visa is a travel permit which allows travellers to undertake employment in the country issuing the visa for the purpose of supplementing their travel funds....
in order to be abble to work and live in those countries for (usually) up to a year. In order to be eligible for a working holiday visa you need to be between 18 and 30 (sometimes 35) years of age. Some countries (like the USA) force you to apply for a working holiday visa through organisations like IEP or CCUSA while other countries allow you to apply for the visa yourself. Further rules and regulations concerning these visas can change so always check with the appropriate High Commission or Embassy.